Known originally as the Supermarine N.113, the Scimitar F.1 was a large single-seat, twin-engined naval carrier-borne interceptor fighter and strike aircraft for the Royal Navy. The prototype flew for the first time on 20 January 1956 and deck-landing trials were successfully completed on HMS Ark Royal in July 1957. The first of 76 production aircraft flew on 11 January 1957 and the first operational squadron (No 803) was formed in the summer of 1958 and embarked on HMS Victorious in the following September.

This was one of six aircraft of 800sqn which disembarked from Ark Royal to Embakasi airport as the ship would be in Mombasa harbour for ten days, The aircraft was hit by a VERY large bird which completely wrecked the port engine. Because the engine was brought to a complete stop and the torque produced ripped the engine from its mountings and caused considerable damage to the surrounding structure. A major repair was required and this involved the manufacturer as well the specialists from the faa repair unit. I am not sure wether the aircraft was ever returned to service as the Scimitar squadrons were being run down as the carrier fleets smaller carriers were being withdrawn and the Buccaneer aircraft was due to enter service the MK 1 version being another story

Revd Andrew MacKenzie, 13.08.2015

We had a Scimitar in the Role Equipment hangar at RAF Eastleigh around 1962/63. I think it had suffered a bird strike, and it sat there for months. Anyone know anything about it?

Victor Moulder, 21.02.2015

Interesting comments but looking at it from another angle I can remember looking up through the odd opening of the jungle canopy in northern Malaya in 61 or 62 as an Australian Infantryman seeing these amazing aircraft off the Ark Royal doing their stuff in contrast to as I remember RAAF Mustangs and then Vampires and Canberra's from Butterworth, also can remember being absolutely stunned whilst on leave in Penang and witnessing a Vulcan coming in low over Georgetown to land at Butterworth for that time it was like something akin to a UFO.

Brian'Sherpa' Challis, 17.12.2014

Served on both 800 and 803 NAS in the Med and Far East. My cab was XD 276 (100 on 800 and 117 on 803) as a NAM AE on 800 and LAM AE on 803. Wonderfully happy times. Am in touch with Pete 'Debbie' Reynolds. Was editor of the squadron magazine ' Our Henry'. (Logo was a cats backside)

Jay Dunning, 02.05.2013

These great, hulking, bleeding hydraulic juice, war machines were great. Only Scimitars were Scimitars - stuff the rest!Looking for any of the guys on 800 Squadron in 1960/61 on the Australian trip especially Jim (Dodger) Long whose last four numbers were 0909. Anyone know him? Or Chris Grant, Roy Miles?? Love to hear from them. I'm in Victoria, Australia but would love to hear from them.All the best,Jay (Jerry, Jake, Jezbo and other names I was known by) DunningPS I played guitar and had a band on the Ark!

Stew Caulfield, 01.02.2013

Further to John Stevens comment about a canopy detaching at 600 MPH, could that be the one that Lt Somerville Jones lost on a cat launch from the Ark 65/66 time? I believe he completed his sortie and landed back ,unless someone knows any better?

Scouse Hardy-NAM1(o), 17.05.2012

I cut my teeth on this one in '64'. A cracking aeroplane for all it's faults.

michael O smith, 29.11.2011

I worked on scimitars in 1962 on 736 squadron The scimitar was prone to be down due to service failures in fact when deployed to the airshow at Farnborough we flew all but one plane to Yeoville by using the opportunity servicing to get them in the air in spite of not being fully operational we would be soaked in fuel when we removed the servicing covers By the way is that Ginger Warrington ?We called the scimitars leaky puppies "MO " Smith

Stew Caulfield, 10.10.2011

I don't think you can blame "Big Aircraft" "Small Deck" for Scimitar losses.I served on 803 on the Ark and we had many losses and none were attributable to aircraft's size but due to failures in the aircraft's systems.Apart from the one which ended up with the nose wheel in the catwalk due to heavy seas and a slippy deck.

bombardier, 22.05.2011

The reason for the Scimitar's high accident rate wasn't a flaw to the aircraft itself.The Scimitar was large and powerful while the British carriers of the period were very small,this made take offs and landings from them a nightmare especially when flying big aircraft like the Scimitar

Danny De Ramos, 02.04.2011

hey paul how are you doing? visit me at facebook and congratulation on your wedding.regards to julieta

Barry, 10.03.2011

This was a popular aircraft alright but took a long time to gestate. One has to remember that prior to finalising this design the Royal Navy had been looking at aircraft that would not have an undercarriage but would land on a rubberised flight deck. You wonder how much they paid for that idea! Prior to the retirement of the Scimitar the risible plan was to remove the guns fortunately this idea was not taken up.

edward harries, 05.02.2011

I was witness to the first deck landing on HMS Ark Royal, it frightened the hell out of us.

Brian Falconer, 17.11.2010

Iwas an Aircraft fitter working at RNAY Fleetlands on Scimitars in the late 1950's/ early 1960's, we managed to stop all fuel and hydraulic leakswhen carrying out functional tests but it only needed a flight to undo all hard work, wings leaked fuel like a sieve despite copious amounts of PRC sealant. But what an aircraft!!

Simon Creasy, 14.10.2010

Clean a/c climb speed was 500knots converting to .8Mach! LABS attack at 300feet was either 615knots or 630knots depending on which profile chosen - believe me, 630knots at 300feet AGL was REALLY something to enjoy.

Ian Howard, 07.09.2010

Worked on these on 736 sqdn at Lossie and 803 Sqdn on HMS Hermes from 1961-65. If they didn't leak they were empty! Then has the time to worry. Experienced pilots said it was the last of the true sports car aircraft. I still have a 2" scar on my scalp from the lower IFF aerial! Or was it TACAN?

Paul Gunn, 19.05.2010

600Mph is approx 960Kmh. I was a lowly apprentice on these at South Marston and in about 1958 as I was walking between flight sheds a Scimiter flew at low level across the airfield which appeared to be FO and a with a sudden vertical turn, stood on its tail and vanished into the blue and a roll of thunder following. I am 70 now.

John Stevens, 06.01.2010

The pilots loved it.One ex Scimitar,Concorde pilot, stated in my Scimitar Book. "There were no twin seater Scimitars. You just strapped one to your bum and off you went." One Scimiter pilots landed at Ford in a Seahawk, had a quick brief from another pilot who had flown one, had a look at the pilots notes and off he went. Says he could see the airfield shrinking in size on his rear view mirror as he shot skywards.Another tells of his canopy flying off when doing over 600mph at low level. "If you think you had the ultimate thrill in an open top sports car, you have not." he states.

John Stevens, 06.01.2010

The pilots loved it.One ex Scimitar,Concorde pilot, stated in my Scimitar Book. "There were no twin seater Scimitars. You just strapped one to your bum and off you went." One Scimiter pilots landed at Ford in a Seahawk, had a quick brief from another pilot who had flown one, had a look at the pilots notes and off he went. Says he could see the airfield shrinking in size on his rear view mirror as he shot skywards.Another tells of his canopy flying off when doing over 600mph at low level. "If you think you had the ultimate thrill in an open top sports car, you have not." he states.

Vic Warrington, 24.05.2009

I Concur with Roland about the leaky Scimitar. Even as a Radio Mech I got continually soaked in oil. I still have affection for the noisy old girls though! Farnborough was never the same after 736 performed in 1962.